Sunapee Village Christmas Brings Community Activities, Civic Partnerships Together

Sunapee Village Christmas drew residents and visitors to Sunapee Harbor on December 13 for an afternoon of holiday programming. Events ran from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., after a parade that departed at 12:45 p.m. from Safety Services on Sargent Road, and included the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus by firetruck. Organizers scheduled visits with Santa by reservation, and offered horse and carriage rides from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., cookie decorating, face painting, an I Spy scavenger hunt throughout the harbor, a gingerbread house contest, and photo opportunities at the Ben Mere Bandstand tree and with the Lake Queen.

Project Sunapee coordinated the event with a slate of community partners. The Livery hosted crafts and a book and mail to Santa activity, while proceeds and an online and in person auction supported keeping admission free. Community participants and sponsors included Abbott Library, the Sunapee Fire Department, Sunapee Middle High School PTO, Wild Goose Country Store, Sunapee Cruises and Project Sunapee, demonstrating a cross sector approach to event delivery.

The event model highlights practical strengths and policy considerations for local civic life. Collaboration with municipal services, visible in the use of the Safety Services staging area and the fire department escort, simplifies logistics and public safety oversight. Relying on sponsorships, donated services and auction proceeds to fund a free public event increases accessibility, but it also creates a reliance on year by year fundraising and volunteer labor. That model raises routine governance questions for towns that host recurring gatherings, including how revenues and expenses are tracked, how public space and public services are scheduled and reimbursed, and how equity in access is measured when certain activities require reservations.

Local businesses in the harbor area benefited from increased foot traffic and visibility during the festival, and school and nonprofit groups used the occasion both to engage volunteers and to raise funds. For residents, the event reinforced civic ties and provided family friendly programming during the holiday season. As Sunapee planners and community organizations look ahead to future editions, the coordination demonstrated on December 13 offers a blueprint for public private collaboration while underscoring the need for clear financial records and municipal coordination to sustain such community traditions.